Shoe



Patented May 1E, 193@ autres stars FRANCIS J. ODONNELL, OF MEDWAY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO JOSEPH M.

HERMAN SHOE COMANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS SHOE Y Application mea Jun@ 2e, 192s. Seriai No. 289,095.

y5 other things are sometimes injured by the falling of things upon their toes. The use of steel or metal caps for such shoes is objectionable because, if crushedby a falling object, the foot is with difhculty withdrawn from the crushed toe of the shoe. v It is a requisite, therefore, of shoes for use by such persons that the toe be strong and stiE and still capable of being cut with a knife to be removed from an injured foot. In many cases the shoes are exposed to oil, and sometimes the box toe stiifeners, such as those made of leather, are so softened and rendered pliable and sleazy by the oil, that they give no stiff protection to the foot after having become saturated with oil. Box toe stiifeners made of asphalt-treated felt, when exposed to oil, become soft and pliable and require to be protected from the access of oil in order to preserve their stiffness and strength.

The object of the present invention is to produce a shoe having a strong, stiff toe which will protect the foot against injury by the dropping of things on it, and which at t-he same time will retain its stiffness and strength by preventing the access of oil to the stilfener or stiffening material employed.

According to the present invention the shoe is constructed with an oil tight pocket within which the stiifener is encased to prevent the softening eect of the access of oil to the stiffener. The inventi-onlfurther consists in details of construction hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a shoe showing the shoe cap, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail drawing of a portion ofthe cap and vamp of the shoe at the joint.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is described as follows: The shoe comprises a vamp 10, a sole 11 and a toe portion indicated in a general way by the reference character 12. The shoe is of the Goodyear Welt type provided with an insole 13 and welt 14, and between the insole and thev sole is a layer of hard fibre 15 forthe purpose yof stiffening and strengthening the sole and contributing to the wear of the sole and prevention of access of oil to the toe portion. The toe cap 16 is of the usual form and laps over the forward edge of the vamp 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Underneath the rear edgef-of the toe cap isprovided a strip of stay-tape 17, which is used to prevent any extrusion of glue through the perforations with which the rear edge of the cap is usually provided.

The box toe stiener comprises two pieces 18 and 19 of asphalt-impregnated felt. This stiifener is, therefore, a double thickness stiffener, and taken together they form a strong, stiff support for the toe portion, and

an excellent protection to the f-oot of the wearer. This box toe stiifener is encased or pocketed between two layers of oil-impervious cloth 20 and 21. These stiifener covers 20 and 21 are made ofk enamel cloth to render them oil-impervious. Inside ofthe shoe is the usual Vlining 22.

The upper is assembiled as follows z-The toe cap, stay-tape and the outer stifener kcover 20 are sewed together by a dry-thread seam 23, which unites the rear edge of the toe cap, stay-tape and outside box toe stiffener cover together at the seam. The two pieces of the box toe stiflener (which for convenience in handling are tackedtogether by sheet metal fasteners) and the inside'stiffener cover are then applied in the position shown in Fig. 2, and thena second wax-thread seam 24 of stitches is sewed through the toe cap, stay-tape, the outer cover, the vamp, both layers of the stiifener and the inside stiifener cover. This seam is a wax-thread seam, as stated, in order to secure a tight oil-resisting seam to prevent entrance of oil to the box toe stiffenerfrom above. Either before` or after the assembly of the parts of the box toe, as

described, the other portions of the upper are united by the usual seams.

The shoe is then ready for the making.

Preliminary to the insertion of the last and thepulling over operation, the stiiener is heated in the usual way on a steam table, and

Y operation is performed.

then glue is applied to the surface between the cap and the outer stiffener cover, between the outer stilfener cover and the stifener, and between the stiffener and the inner stifl'e'ner` cover, and paste between the inner cover and the lining. The lastis inserted in the shoe, the insole is applied and the pulling over Next the shoe is lasted, and the inseam is sewed.r The heating of the stiffener of the type referred to 'renders it pliable and easily bent and formed to the contour of the last. In some stiffeners the softening would be accomplished by treat# ing with a vapor or liquid adapted to soften the stiffener.

pocket or enclosure therefor formed of oilresisting materials, the edges of the-pocket being united by a seam of stitches across the tp of the toe and by the inseam around the e ge. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANCIS J. ODONNELL.

The shoe is provided with anoil-protecting v cover or pocket, which is closed at the upper i edge of the cap by the wax-thread seam and at the outer edge Vof the cap by the inseam, thus preventing the ingress of -oil or water or perspiration to the stiener, and preserving it in its strong, stiff condition.

A shoe toemade according to this invention was cut olf of ak shoe, immersed-for two weeks in a bodyof oil, removed and 'then subjected to vertical pressure and found to be able to support, without intolerable distorv tion, a weight of approximately lbs.

The glue by which the several parts are united contributes to the stiffness, strength vand oil-resisting quality of the shoe toe. The outer stiffner cover and cap on the outside, and the inner stifener cover and shoe lining on the inside, form not only a resistance to the ingress ofoil, but also formheat insulating layers which prevent the heat from strik- Ven ing it.

ing through tothe stiener, and thereby soft- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A shoe `having its toe portion provided f with a box toe stiffener ofnormally strong,

stiff material, a' stilfenerpoclet or enclosure of two pieces of enamel cloth., one on each side Y ofthe stiffener, the edges of the enamel cloth y being sewed together to close the pocket and to protect the stiffener from access of oil.

2. A shoe as defined in claim l in which the pocket or enclosure material is glued to t the stiener. ,y Y y 3. A shoe having atoe cap, a vamp extending to and lapping under the rear edge of the toe cap, being` united thereto by a drythread lseam of stitches, two oil-proof box toe stiifener covers, and a stifl'ener between 

